'Hyphalosaurus or hidden dragon') is a Chinese all-weather 4.5 generation,[2][3] tandem-seat, twin-engine, multirole strike fighter[4][1] built by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and operated by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

[1] J-16 units have received radar-absorbent paint to reduce its radar signature,[8] and enhance its suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) capability in conjunction with electronic support measures pods.

[12] According to aviation researcher Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute, J-16 holds advantages over Russian Flanker variants with its wide application of composite materials, longer range missiles, advanced sensors, and avionics.

[13] British combat aviation expert Abraham Abrams referred to the J-16 as "by far the world’s most advanced [Su-27] Flanker derivative," citing China's major advantages in composite material, radar and missile technologies, as primary facilitators of this.

The publication highlighted that these numbers made the J-16 "by far the most widely commissioned heavyweight fighter class by a single air force anywhere in the world since the turn of the century."

[26] On May 26, 2023, a J-16 fighter made a fly-by cutting directly in front of the nose of a RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft over South China Sea, forcing the American plane to fly through its jet wash, a maneuver colloquially known as "thumping".

[27] The PLA stated in response the following day that the American spy aircraft "deliberately intruded" into China's military training area.

"[27] Data from Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA),[31] Rupprecht[32]General characteristics Performance Armament Avionics Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era